Improvement in preventing the obstruction of water-channels



L. H. IBEEBE. PREVENTING THE OBS'IRUCTION OF WATER CHANNELS.

No.188,842. Patented March 27,1877

N- PEIERS, PHOTO-L TNOGRA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS H. BEE E, OF LAKE SIDE, MIcHIeAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREVENTING THE OBSTRUCTION 0F WATER-CHANNELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,842, dated March27, 1877; application filed August 7, 1876.

To all'whomyit may concern: I

Be it known that I, LEWIS H. BEEBE, of Lake Side, Berrien county,Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Devices for Preventing theObstruction of Water-Channels, of which the following is aspecification:

The object of my invention is to prevent the obstruction by ice, &c., ofthe mouths of pipes or channels, through which water is drawn fromrivers or reservoirs to supply water-wheels, pumping-engines, 850.; andthis object I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe,reference being hadl-to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1represents the ordinary method of supplying pipes with water from riversor reservoirs; Fig. 2, the same with my improvements, and Fig. 3 amodification.

Where the strainers B, usually employed at the entrances to water pipesor channels A, are exposed, as in Fig. l, the passage of the water intothe pipe causes the formation of downward currents above the entrance,these currents tending to draw the surface-water downward.

This is objectionable under ordinary circumstances, because refusematterfloating on the surface is drawn downward, as shown by the arrows, Fig.1, and either enters or 0bstructs the pipe; but the plan is especiallyobjectionable during the winter months, when the surface-water is cold,and is filled with fine icy particles, commonly termed slush ice.

In this case the cold surface-water and fine particles of ice descend,and soon coat the strainer B with a thickness of ice, which effectuallyprevents the entrance of water into the pipe. I.

This objection I overcome by arranging over the straine'r'a casing orplatform, which prevents t'hedi-re'ct downward flow of coldsurface-water to the pipe, and compels the latter to draw its supplyfrom, a point at or near-the bottom of the river or reservoir.

Thus, in Big. 2, D is a casing or box, mounted upon posts a, so that itslower edge is somewhat higher than the top of the strainer, while itsupper edge extends slightly above the level of the water.

When water is first drawn into the pipe A there will be a downwardcurrent created, which will draw some of the water from within thecasing, and thus lower the level in the same below that of thesurrounding water. As Soon as this takes place water will pass under theedge of the casing, as shown by the arrows, in order to restore thelevel within the same, and the current thus created will be kept up aslong as water is drawn into the pipe.

It will thus be seen that after the flow of water has once begun thewater within the casing is kept in a quiescent state, compelling thesupply to be drawn under the lower edges of the casing, so that byregulating the height of these edges above the bottom the Water can bedrawn from a point as near to the bottom as desired.

In Fig. 3a platform, E, supported upon posts b, is shown in place of thecasing D, this platform also serving to prevent the direct downward flowof surface-water to the strainer, and compelling the supply to be drawnfrom a point at or near the bottom, as indicated by the arrows.

I do not desire to claim, broadly, the use of a casing in combinationwith the mouth of a water-pipe, as an instance of such use is shown inthe patent granted to me on the 29th day of June, 1875, said patentbeing numbered 165,859; but

I claim as my invention The combination of a pipe or channel throughwhich water is drawn from a river or reservoir with a casing or platformarranged wholly above the entrance to said pipe, and serving to preventthe direct downward flow of water to the same, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEW IS H. BEEBE.

Witnesses:

HENRY HowSoN, J r., HARRY SMITH.

